Attorney for the defendant

Sheldon Sorosky, lawyer for former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, addresses the court during his client's sentencing hearing at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse. Sorosky told the judge Blagojevich committed four wrongs, chiefly the attempted sale of the Senate seat held by Barack Obama until his election as president. Blagojevich made a mistake by asking for a job in return for possibly appointing Obamas friend, Valerie Jarrett to the Senate, Sorosky said. "We accept the fact that's a crime. Its illegal. He should not have done it," Sorosky said. "That crime does not call for a 15-year jail sentence."

Sheldon Sorosky, lawyer for former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, addresses the court during his client's sentencing hearing at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse. Sorosky told the judge Blagojevich committed four wrongs, chiefly the attempted sale of the Senate seat held by Barack Obama until his election as president. Blagojevich made a mistake by asking for a job in return for possibly appointing Obamas friend, Valerie Jarrett to the Senate, Sorosky said. "We accept the fact that's a crime. Its illegal. He should not have done it," Sorosky said. "That crime does not call for a 15-year jail sentence." (Cheryl A. Cook, for the Chicago Tribune)

Sheldon Sorosky, lawyer for former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, addresses the court during his client's sentencing hearing at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse. Sorosky told the judge Blagojevich committed four wrongs, chiefly the attempted sale of the Senate seat held by Barack Obama until his election as president. Blagojevich made a mistake by asking for a job in return for possibly appointing Obamas friend, Valerie Jarrett to the Senate, Sorosky said. "We accept the fact that's a crime. Its illegal. He should not have done it," Sorosky said. "That crime does not call for a 15-year jail sentence."Cheryl A. Cook, for the Chicago Tribune